Mooring line cutter system

ABSTRACT

A mooring line cutter is incorporated in a sweep system that is towed underwater by a ship or other tractor vehicle. It includes a cylinder that has a hole drilled along the longitudinal axis thereof which allows it to be threaded on a sweep cable. A beveled cutting edge around the forward periphery thereof may include either a knife edge or a plurality of sharp teeth. The cylinder may be made either as a one piece unit or as several pieces joined together by bolts or screws for easy mounting on said sweep cable.

United States Patent Harris, Jr.

[54] MOORING LINE CUTTER SYSTEM [72] Inventor: William G. Harris, Jr., Titusville,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy [22 Filed: Nov. 8, 1968 [21 Appl.No.:775,995

[52] US. Cl. ..ll4/221 A [51] Int. Cl. ..B63g 7/04, B63g 13/00, B63g 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..114/221; 102/15 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Rogers ..1 14/221 .1 Lewis ..1 14/221 X [451 Oct. 31, 1972 2,966,852 1/1961 Yarnall ..102/15 Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Thomas B. Webb Attorney-Louis A. Miller, Don D. Doty and William T. Skeer [57] ABSTRACT A mooring line cutter is incorporated in a sweep system that is towed underwater by a ship or other tractor vehicle. It includes a cylinder that has a hole drilled along the longitudinal axis thereof which allows it to be threaded on a sweep cable. A beveled cutting edge around the forward periphery thereof may include either a knife edge or a plurality of sharp teeth. The cylinder may be made either as a one piece unit or as several pieces joined together by bolts or screws for easy mounting on said sweep cable.

1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures PKTENTED 3,701,331

sum 10F 2 F/G. 3 F764 2 45 4 7 4a 444;

INVENTOR.

A x" w '4 new WILLIAM G. HARE/SJ MOORING LINE CUTTER SYSTEM The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates generally to cable cutters and, in particular, is a cutter for cutting marine mooring lines, cables, wires, and the like. In even greater particularly, it is a cutter for cutting buoy and marine mine mooring lines, cables, wires, chains, etc., regardless of the material from which they are made.

Heretofore, cable cutters used in sweeping moored marine mines, moored buoys, or other moored objects included either mechanical mechanisms or a combination of explosive and mechanical mechanisms which incorporated cocked chisels or knives that were released or otherwise actuated by a trigger type of mechanism which is snared, hooked, or otherwise contacted by the line or cable to be cut.

In addition, there are also prior art underwater cable cutters that incorporate stationary knives in which hooked or snared cables to be cut are wedged as a result of their being towed by a sweeping assembly or system.

Of course, cutting dies having various and sundry cutting edge configurations are also well known, but their overall structures usually incorporate such cooperating components as will make them susceptible to being used in conjunction with punch presses or comparable apparatus.

For many practical purposes, the aforementioned prior art devicesfunction quite well; however, for the purpose of cutting buoy, mine, or other mooring lines or cables, they leave a great deal to be desired. For instance, they are usually somewhat complex from the mechanical standpoint and, thus, have a large number of parts which must be assembled, some of which are complicated moving parts. In addition, because they are usually large and somewhat heavy (relatively speaking), they are ordinarily difficult to handle and make any sweep or other system in which they are incorporated awkward to handle, too. Furthermore, in some cases they are hazardous to store, handle, and operate. Moreover, they usually leave a great deal to be desired, as far as actually cutting mooring lines or cables is concerned.

The present invention overcomes a great many of the difficulties of the prior art cable cutters, in that it is exceedingly simple in construction; it is readily adapted to being incorporated in numerous types and configurations of sweep systems for the cutting of marine mine mooring cables or lines, buoy mooring lines, submarine vegetation, land vegetation, or anything else that is suitable for contact thereby when included in an appropriate sweep system for so doing; it is easily and safely stored and handled, and operated; and it is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Thus, for all of its numerous intended purposes, as well as for the specific purpose of cutting buoy lines and marine mine cables, it may readily be seen that the subject invention constitutes a considerable improvement over the devices of the prior art.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved line, cable, chain, and the like, cutter.

Another object is to provide an improved mooring line or cable cutter.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved buoy line or cable cutter.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for cutting marine mine mooring lines, cables, and chains.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for severing the tether of any tethered object.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for clearing obstructions from the intended path of a submarine vehicle, a marine surface vehicle, a land vehicle, and air vehicle, a space vehicle, or any other predetermined mobile entity.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved buoy sweeping system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for severing mooring lines of any buoyant or floating devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for clearing vegetation from river bottoms, canals, sea floors, swamps, jungles, dry land, air space, and the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved line or cable cutter that contains no complex moving parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mooring line cutter system that is less likely to become intangled with itself or other objects during the operation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mooring line or cable cutter that is easily, economically, and safely manufactured, stored, serviced, and operated.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages will be readily appreciated as the subject invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away of a one piece embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a two piece embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the embodiment of the in vention taken along 4--4 of the illustration of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5a through 50 depict three additional exemplary cutting edges which may be employed as the cutting edges of the preferred embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an assembly which includes the cutter of FIG. 1, an exemplary backstop for said cutter, and a wire or cable on which said cutter and backstop are threaded and secured, respectively;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary system which may incur porate the subject invention to an advantage; and

FIG. 8 is a typical mine sweeping system which may incorporate the invention.

At this time, it should perhaps be understood that although the subject invention disclosed herewith is disclosed as being a unique cutter, cutter assembly, and

cutter system for the timely severing of marine mooring lines for the sake of simplicity of disclosure, it may be used in any predetermined environment for the pur' pose of cutting any appropriate objects. Of course, the object or things intended to be cut may necessitate the making of design choices with respect to the invention, inasmuch as materials required, knife angle, bevel, configuration and sharpness, durability, size, and overall geometrical configuration of both the unique cutter and the system within which it is included may require customizing for any given particular purpose. Obviously, it would be well within the purview of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented herewith to make such design choices as would be necessary to optimize the invention for any particular use or for operation in any particular environmental medium.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a one piece embodiment ll of the cutter portion of the invention is shown as having a cylindrical metal body 12. Along the longitudinal axis A-A of body 12, is located a hole or aperture 13 which extends through the entire length thereof. Thus, cylindrical body 12 is a hollow cylindrical body having a front end, a rear end, and an axis of revolution, with the hollow thereof located in such manner through said body and along the axis of revolution thereof as to cause said body to have a wall of such geometrical configuration as to be spatially disposed from, along, and around said axis of revolution. The rear end 14 of cutter 12 is preferably flat, so as to provide a substantially flat bearing area that may be disposed in contact with any appropriate stop means, to be discussed subsequently. The front end 15 of cutter 11 has a beveled knife portion 16 which extends around the circumference thereof in such manner as to provide a sharp cutting edge 17 around the entire circular periphery thereof.

The angle and depth of the bevel of knife 16 may be of some importance, depending on the use to which the cutter is to be put. However, suffice to say, that the artisan will obviously be able to design it to give it the required strength and cutting characteristics for any predetermined purpose. Likewise, the selection of material for body 12 and cutting edge 17 may be readily selected for such purpose.

Cutting edge 17 of the cutter of FIG. 1 is shown as being a circular knife edge; however, it may have many configurations or any number of combined configurations without violating the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it may include sharp teeth of any given size, number, and shape, or if expedient for some unusual application, it could be substantially, square, flat, or blunt. Exemplary disclosures of cutting edges which are suitable as cutting edge 17 will be discussed further in conjunction with the teachings of FIGS. 5a through 50, which are presented below.

As previously suggested, the bevel angle of knife 16 may be optimized to suit any given purpose. It, of course, may have straight or curved surfaces, as desired, too. The amount of bevel thereof, however, determines the inside diameter 18 at the rear end thereof and, hence, the amount of forwardly disposed flat surface 19 thereat.

The inside diameter of hole 13 is preferably smaller than diameter 18, and 'it depends upon the size of sweep wire or cable on which it is to be threaded. Depending upon the situation, hole 13 may be sufficiently large in diameter to allow cutter 11 to slide and/or rotate on its sweep'wire or cable. Or, in the alternative, it may be small enough in diameter to snugly or tightly fit on its sweep wire or cable. In the latter case, force would have to be applied to properly string it thereon.

Another preferred embodiment 21 of the cutter of the subject invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 1, except that it is made in two pieces to facilitate installation thereof on a sweep wire or cable, without having to thread it along what perhaps might be a considerable length thereof.

Cutter 21 has a substantially cylindrical body 22, with a hole or aperture 23 cut therethrough along the longitudinal axis thereof. The rear portion thereof has a flat bearing surface 24, which is substantially normal to said longitudinal axis. The front end 25 of cutter 21 has a beveled knife portion 26 which extends around the entire circumference thereof in such manner as to effect a sharp cutting edge 27 around the circular periphery thereof.

The angle and depth of the bevel of knife 26 may, like bevel 16 of the cutter of FIG. 1, be of some significance, depending on the use to which the cutter is put. Again, the artisan having the benefit of the teachings presented herewith could obviously design it from the size, angle, depth, shape, and material standpoints to give it whatever strength and cutting characteristics is required for any given purpose.

With respect to cutting edge 27 per se, although shown as a knife edge in FIGS. 3 and 4, it may also have any of many suitable configurations, some of which will be discussed further in conjunction with FIGS. 5a through 5c.

As shown in FIG. 4, cutter body 22 is made in two halves or pieces 28 and 29, which have complementary abutting surfaces 31 and 32, respectively. Thus, cylindrical body 22 is, when assembled, a hollow cylindrical body having a front end, a rear end, and an axis of revolution, with the hollow thereof located in such manner through said body and along the axis of revolution thereof as to cause said body to have a wall of such geometrical configuration as to be spatially disposed from, along, and around said axis of revolution. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along 44 of FIG. 3. Both FIGS. 3 and 4 show a pair of screws 33 and 34 which are respectively mounted in countersunk holes 35 and 36 and through bolt holes 37 and 38 so as to extend into a complementary hole 41 and another complementary hole located in piece 29, the latter of which cannot be seen in FIG. 4 due to particular cross-section depicted therein.

The side of cutter 21 opposite screws 33 and 34 likewise has a pair of screws 43 and 44 located in countersunk holes 45 and 46 located in piece 29 and extending into appropriately threaded holes 47 and 48 of piece 28, respectively.

It is perhaps noteworthy that in this particular embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, screws 43 and 44 and associated holes are disposed in the opposite direction in the opposi've half 29 of body 22 than the aforesaid screws 33 and 34 and their associated holes of half 28. Such arrangements facilitates storage of the cutters, since halves 28 and 29 are then structurally identical, and both are designed to accept screws referenced as screws 33, 34, 43, and 44, which are, likewise, identical. Of course, an opposite design will hold or clamp cutter 21 on a sweep wire or cable, too,

in the event the artisan desires to construct it in that manner for some particular reason. In any event, when assembled, the aforementioned screws hold pieces 28 and 29 together in such manner as to effectively make cutter 21 comparable to the aforesaid cutter 11. The diameter of hole 23, would obviously determine whether cutter 21 clamped on the sweep wire or whether it mounted loosely thereon.

FIGS. 5a through 5c illustrate several knife configurations which may be used as forwardly disposed knife 17 of cutter 11 and knife 27 of cutter 21. Because cutters 11 and 21 are indicated as being cylindrical, the forward end view thereof would be circular. Hence, FIG. 2 shows a representative circle as having a continuous cutting edge, FIG. 5a shows a representative circle as having large sawteeth 52, FIG. 5b shows a representative circle as having relatively large circular edge teeth 53, and FIG. 50 shows a representative circle as having relatively small pointed teeth 54. Of course, in actual practice, the cutting edges of each of said representative circles would ordinarily extend around the entire periphery thereof; however, conceivably, more than one type of beveled cutting edge could be incorporated in any given cutter, but, for most practical purposes, it has been found that continuous knife and tooth cutting edges work quite satisfactorily.

FIG. 6 depicts a typical method of mounting a mooring line cutter on a sweep wire or cable. In this particular arrangement or assembly 55, cutter 11 has been used, although cutter 21 could be substituted therefor. Cutter 11 is backed by a backstop 56 which is preferably identical to cutter 21, except that instead of having a forward cutting edge, it has a forward bearing surface 57 which abuts rearward bearing surface 14 of cutter l1. Otherwise, it is designed to firmly clamp on sweep wire 58 which extends therethrough and through cutter 11. Thus, it prevents cutter 11 from sliding on the sweep wire when it contacts a mooring cable to be cut. Although backstop 56 is typical of the type that may be employed, other stops are also available. For example, any device or instrument that is being towed by a wire or cable may act as the backstop for the subject cutter, as will be more fully explained in the description of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates a simple system which incorporates the invention. Shown therein is a tractor vehicle such as a ship 61 which tows a sweep wire 62 through water 63 (such as sea water or the like). Attached to the end of wire 62 is a predetermined marine instrument or vehicle 64, and at intermittent positions along the length of said sweep wire, assemblies 55 of cutters 11 or 21 and backstops 56 or cutter 21 or any combination thereof are mounted.

In this particular representation, a marine mine 65, moored by a cable 66 and anchor 67, are located in sea water 63. Also, a buoy 68, moored by a line 69 and an anchor 70, are likewise, located in water 63.

FIG. 8 illustrates another simple system which incorporates the invention. In this particular arrangement, a ship 71 or other tractor vehicle tows a sweep wire or cable 72 within the sea 73 or other aqueous or subaqueous medium. In order to provide position control for said sweep cable 72, a depressor 74, such as, for example, a predetermined weight, vane, or the like, is attached thereto at some suitable water depth. Intermittently attached along the length of sweep wire 72 is a plurality of cutter-backstop assemblies 55 similar to that shown in FIG. 6, with the cutting edge thereof disposed in the forward or direction of travel direction. At some rearward position remote from depressor 74 is another depressor, weight or vane 76 which is, likewise, attached to sweep cable 72, and attached to the end of sweep cable 72 is a predetermined float 77. Due to the geometry of the configuration and the respective forces applied thereto, ship 71, depressors 74 and 76, and float 77 provide some position control for sweep cable 72 and the cutter assemblies mounted thereon.

For further position of said sweep cable 72, an otter 78 may optionally be connected thereto by means of any conventional or appropriate connector 79. Of course, other otters, floats, wires, cables, depressors, and any other position control apparatus may be attached to sweep cable 72, too, if so desired or if operational circumstances so warrant.

In the quasi-pictorial view of FIG. 8, a marine mine 81, which is moored by a line, cable, or chain 82 and anchored by anchor 83, is shown as being contacted by one of the cutters 11 or 21 mounted on sweep cable 72.

The views of both FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 disclose moored buoys and mines only, but it should be understood that numerous other items (both natural, such as vegation, and man made, such as cables, chains, lines, tethers, or the like) may be severed by the invention when appropriately designed therefor.

What is claimed is:

l. A marine mine mooring line cutter means, comprising in combination:

an elongated hollow cylindrical body having a front end, a rear end, and an axis of revolution, with the hollow thereof located through the entire length of said body along the axis of revolution thereof to cause said body to have a wall of such geometrical configuration as to be spatially disposed from, along, and uniformly around said axis of revolution;

a beveled cutting edge, having a plurality of teeth, disposed around the periphery of the front end of the wall of said elongated hollow cylindrical body, with the beveled surface thereof sloping inwardly toward said axis of revolution and rearwardly toward the rear end of said elongated hollow cylindrical body;

a towable cable threaded through the entire hollow of said hollow cylindrical body, so as to extend from both the front and rear ends thereof;

back stop means securely attached to said towable cable behind and in abutment with the rear end of the wall of said elongated hollow cylindrical body for preventing the rearward movement thereof along said towable cable, said back stop means including a split hollow body having a pair of halfsections, each of which are complementarily configured with the other and said towable cable for being securely clamped thereto when forced together, and means connected between said pair of hollow body half-sections for the forcing thereof together to effect the secure clamping thereof to said towable cable; and

means connected to said towable cable in front of said hollow cylindrical body for the towing thereof within an aqueous environmental medium to effect the impact of said beveled cutting edge on a marine mine mooring line located within said aqueous environmental medium, so as to effect severance thereof. 

1. A marine mine mooring line cutter means, comprising in combination: an elongated hollow cylindrical body having a front end, a rear end, and an axis of revolution, with the hollow thereof located through the entire length of said body along the axis of revolution thereof to cause said body to have a wall of such geometrical configuration as to be spatially disposed from, along, and uniformly around said axis of revolution; a beveled cutting edge, having a plurality of teeth, disposed around the periphery of the front end of the wall of said elongated hollow cylindrical body, with the beveled surface thereof sloping inwardly toward said axis of revolution and rearwardly toward the rear end of said elongaTed hollow cylindrical body; a towable cable threaded through the entire hollow of said hollow cylindrical body, so as to extend from both the front and rear ends thereof; back stop means securely attached to said towable cable behind and in abutment with the rear end of the wall of said elongated hollow cylindrical body for preventing the rearward movement thereof along said towable cable, said back stop means including a split hollow body having a pair of half-sections, each of which are complementary configured with the other and said towable cable for being securely clamped thereto when forced together, and means connected between said pair of hollow body half-sections for the forcing thereof together to effect the secure clamping thereof to said towable cable; and means connected to said towable cable in front of said hollow cylindrical body for the towing thereof within an aqueous environmental medium to effect the impact of said beveled cutting edge on a marine mine mooring line located within said aqueous environmental medium, so as to effect severance thereof. 